RockOrange is an all-hands-on-deck, aces-in-their-places operation. As a smaller agency, employees break off in project teams that routinely include individuals who work outside the project scope. If someone shows a penchant or nascent skill in an area, the agency works hard to develop that spark.
Leaders often campaign to have account services professionals take on larger creative roles, and when possible, creatives are allowed to be part of client conversations and interface with stakeholders. A new business pitch at RockOrange will invariably include a content expert, a design expert and a strategy consultant—not just business development staff.
During the agency’s busiest times, the company will often bring in manicurists, pedicurists and masseuses to work in the office as a stress release. Last year, during a convention, the agency brought employees to see the Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show. Snacks, drinks and consideration are always provided for the hard jobs employees are doing.
RockOrange also invests in busman’s holidays for all team members, sending team members to events like SXSW, Emerge Americas, Hispanicize, Collision, the Consumer Electronics Show and TechCrunch. These trips are all-expenses-paid.
RockOrange also provides a course of in-house training called RockU, which features lessons on media engagement, technical creative, list creation and management, client interaction, business development, newsroom anatomy, storytelling and numerous other topics. Internal leaders are often the course professors, but employees also frequently engage external experts to lead courses and discussions.